Gripping device



(No Model.)

H. G. BUDDENBERG. GRIPPING DEVICE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. BUDDENBERG, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

GRIPPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,614, dated September 1, 1891..

Application filed March 21, 1891. Serial No. 385,915. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY O. BUDDENBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gripping Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to grippingtools; and it consists in certain novel features in the construction thereof, substantially as hereinafter described, and particularly poiuted out in the subjoined claims.

The objects of my invention are to construct a strong, simple, inexpensive, and efficient device especially adapted for the removal of obstructions from the mouths of sewer-traps, catch-basins, &c., which will obviate the necessity of a descent into the sewer-trap, 650., for this purpose and be capable of tightly grasping articles of various kinds, shapes, sizes, &c., and also be capable of dislodging obstructions which are not in position to be grasped by the jaws and of placing them so that they can be grasped by the jaws. These objects are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device closed. Fig. 2 is a side view of it with the jaws open and ready for action.

5 is a rod or pole of suitable length having affixed to its broader end the jaw 6, which is preferably made of heavy sheet-iron and consists of the shank 8, by which it is fastened to the pole 5, fiat body part 6, and the prongs 7, which latter incline upward from said body part, which is especially advantageous when the obstructions are lodged in corners or other places where they cannot conveniently be grasped by the jaw, as said prongs can be easily passed under such obstructions and by proper manipulation of the rod or pole 5 will bring the same into position to be grasped by the jaws. The other jaw 9 of the bar is narrower than the jaw 6, and consists of sub length and the prongs 10 will stantially bent prongs 10, aligned with respect to the openings between the prongs 7. lVhen the jaws are closed, the body part thereof will touch each other throughout their entire pass through the openings between said prongs 10, whereby the jaw will completely close and the capacity for grasping small articles, as well as larger ones, be thereby increased. The jaw 9 at its rear end is turned, as shown at 11, to form a sleeve, through which and corresponding sleeves 13, secured to the jaw 6 in opposite sides of said jaw 9, passes a pin 12, whereby said jaw 9 is hinged to said jaw 6.

From the outer side of jaw 9 extends an arm 14, to the free end of which a pull-rod 15 connects. This pull-rod is bent down, so as to approach the pole, and runs parallel with it to its other end, where it is bent, so as to form a handle 16. It is held in position by a number of staples or eyes 17, through which it loosely passes, one of these latter also forming a stop or abutment for one end of a coilspring 18, which encircles the rod, and the other end of which spring rests against a shoulder 19 on said pull-rod.

In using this device it is brought down near the object to be removed, jaw 9 is opened by pulling on rod 15, and jaw 6 scooped under said object. When the latter is in the de sired position on said jaw, the handle of the pull-rod is released, liberating the compressed spring, which, by bearing against shoulder 19, pushes this rod forward and causes jaw 9 to close down upon the object on the other jaw. The tool is now withdrawn and the jaws opened and discharged, after which it may be used again in the same manner.

I am aware that there are devices which operate in a somewhat similar manner, but

designed for different purposes; but most of them are, however, of delicate construction and not suitable for the uses for which my device is intended.

For my purpose it is essential that one of the jaws is rigid and in line with the main pole, so as to permit it to be forcibly pushed under objects in case they are tightlylodged in order to free them before the jaws can be closed. Then, again, the jaws must be broad and suitably shaped, as shown, to grasp securely around any slippery obj ectslike bot tles, for instancewhich are frequently found in such places, and in their normal position they should completely close, so as to catch objects of varying dimensions.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. The herein-described gripping-tool for removing obstructions from the mouths of sewer-traps, &c., consisting of a rod or pole, a rigid jaw 6, secured thereto in line therewith and consisting of a broad fiat body part and upwardly-inclined prongs, a jaw 9, hinged at one end to said jaw 6 and consisting of a fiat body part and downwardly bent prongs aligned with respect to the openings between the prongs of said jaw 6, a rod 15, pivotally secured at one end to said jaw 9, passing through eyes secured to said rod or pole 5, and provided with a projection 19, and a spring encircling said rod 15 and having its abutment formed by one of the eyes through which said rod passes and the projection 19.

2. The herein-described gripping-tool for removing obstructions from the mouths of sewer-traps, &c., consisting of rod 5, a jaw 6, having a shank rigidly secured to said rod and consisting of a broad flat body part and up wardly-inclined prongs, a jaw 9, narrower than said jaw 6 and consisting of abroad fiat body part and downwardly-proj ecting prongs aligned with respect to the openings between the prongs of jaw 9 and projecting throughsaid openings when closed, said .jaw 9 being bent 011 its rear end to form a cylinder and provided on its outer end with an arm let, sleeves 13, rigidly secured to said jaw O in line with and contiguous to the cylindrical portion of said jaw 9, a 'pin passing through said sleeves 13 and cylindrical portion of jaw 9, a pull-rod 15, pivoted at its lower end to said projection 1 L, bent inward toward said rod 5, extending through eyes secured thereto to the upper end thereof, and provided with a projection 19 at its upper end, a handle, and a spring encircling said pull-rod and having its abutments formed by said projection 19 and by one of said eyes, all substantially as shown and described.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY O. BUDDENBERG. Witnesses:

SAMUEL M. QUINN, CARL SPENGEL. 

